IN PICTURES: Comrades v Linfield
LINFIELD'S routine victory failed to dampen the spirits on a night when Ballyclare Comrades opened their impressive new grandstand.
Irish Football Association Life President Jim Boyce was on hand to conduct the official opening at Dixon Park.
An entertaining clash on the pitch was a fitting way to mark the event, with David Jeffrey's Carling Premiership champions securing a 4-1 victory on the night.
An eventful first half saw the Blues miss a chance of going ahead in the 13th minute when Curtis Allen was felled inside the box, but Jim Ervin's penalty was well stopped by Comrades goalkeeper Paddy Flood.
But three minutes later Allen put matters right when he steered home the opening goal after a move started by Philip Lowry and continued by Damien Curran who crossed to Allen inside the box giving him an easy finish.
A minute later a memorable goal from Robert Garrett got the fans on their feet.
Garrett spotted a scoring opportunity despite being 30 yards from goal.
From the left hand touchline he fired into the bottom right hand corner – a contender for goal of the season had it been a week or so later.
In the 23rd minute Comrades gained a penalty when referee Simon Creaney judged that David Armstrong had pulled striker Mark McClelland back as he raced inside the box.
McClelland took the spot-kick himself and made no mistake, stroking it past Alan Blayney and into the left hand corner.
Linfield might well have had a third just before half time when Carvill played Peter Thompson through but Flood brought off a great save to keep his shot out.
Comrades continued to compete against the Premiership champions after the interval but with 20 minutes to go Carvill was upended close to the left hand corner flag and Garrett took the free kick which was knocked in by Thompson from a yard out.
And when Brian McCaul – who had come on to replace Lowry – caught Flood napping with a hard low shot from the edge of the box in the 78th minute, it was game over and a comfortable win for Linfield as expected.
Ballyclare: Flood, McCullough (Boyd, 80), Munster, Holland, Adams, Officer (McDowell, 67), Irvine (Hadden, 59), Forsythe (Galbraith, 74), McClelland (Burns, 74), Hull (McAvoy, 61), Simms
Linfield: Blayney, Armstrong, Curran, Lowry (McCaul, 65), Thompson,Carvill, Bailie (Casement, 70), Garrett, Burns, Ervin, Allen (McAllister, 65)
Referee: Simon Creaney (Newtownards)
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Weather for Newtownabbey
Tuesday 22 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
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Sunny spells
Temperature: 10 C to 21 C
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